WRITTEN QUESTION E-2400/99

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Cleaning up the legacy of asbestos pollution in the European Union

The use of asbestos fibres has been banned since 1997 because of the risk to public health. This legacy of pollution therefore needs to be disposed of as rapidly and as efficiently as possible. A detailed inventory of asbestos and clear directives on disposal are of the utmost importance in this respect.

1. Does the Council have an accurate and detailed inventory of the historical use of asbestos in the 15 EU Member States on the basis of sales figures of the asbestos producers? If not, will the Council set about creating such an inventory so that disposal can be carried out rapidly and efficiently in the near future?

2. How much asbestos was produced and used in the European Union in 1997?

3. In the Council's opinion, in how many factories was asbestos used?

4. In the Council's opinion, in how many office buildings was asbestos used?

5. In the Council's opinion, in how many homes was asbestos used?

6. In the Council's opinion, in how many school buildings was asbestos used?

7. In the Council's opinion, which buildings need to be cleaned up as a matter of priority?

8. What directives has the Council drafted to achieve a rapid and efficient disposal of the legacy of asbestos pollution?

Reply

(14 February 2000)

The Council does not have the information needed to reply to the Honourable Member's questions.